Mitch Maier

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Maier ranks among the elite catchers in the college game, and his lefthanded bat sets him apart. He led the Mid-American Conference in hitting as a freshman with a .444 average, and duplicated that feat this spring, hitting .457. He also led the MAC in stolen bases--a rare feat for a catcher. A 3-1 walk-strikeout ratio further bolsters his offensive profile. Defense is not one of Maier's strong suits. His receiving skills are suspect, and while he has good arm strength his release is a little slow. Experience should cure most of his shortcomings, and he has the speed and athletic ability to move to the outfield, if necessary. Maier was an all-state quarterback in Michigan and lived minutes away from the University of Michigan. He planned to play baseball and football there, but changed his mind when he learned that Michigan had recruited two other catchers--one being Jake Fox, who also should be a factor in this year's draft.